Many atheists I know grew up practicing the religion of their parents. It’s a typical method of indoctrination. Your parents believe something (i.e. Jesus) and they want you to believe it. Of course, religious parents want their kids to think on their own as well. They don’t see themselves as “indoctrinating” their kids. But they [Read More...]

Even if you’re raising your kids without religion, you may have wondered whether or not you should teach your kids about religion. Is it worth filling their heads with mythology when we know there’s no truth behind it? Dale McGowan, author of Parenting Beyond Belief and Raising Freethinkers, suggests four reasons why you should teach [Read More...]

Junior Skeptic (an insert in each issue of Skeptic magazine) offers a science-friendly playlist for children. You can read a description of every song and artist, download every song for free, and parents can check out any advisories (e.g. mild criticism of Darwin’s contemporary opponents, including religious thinkers). Even if you’re not a kid, there [Read More...]

One day, when Dale McGowan writes a full-length play about his family, I got dibs on front-row tickets on opening night. This scene features Dale and his daughter (Delaney) discussing Communion and Greek Mythology: DELANEY: Okay, I have a question. (pause) Where do people get these ideas? How do they… how do they think of [Read More...]

Many of you had thoughts on whether or not you’d allow a stranger to pray over your baby. Reader Ruby Leigh wonders if a particular twist on the prayer would change your mind about it: I just read the piece about the Wal-Mart woman praying over Lulu without request… I can understand how this would [Read More...]